-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
What are you reading? (March 2016)
- Thread starter Maklershed
- Start date
- Status
A Link to the Past
Banned
I'm working on getting through some recent comic purchases, which include:
Dr. Slump (multiple volumes)
Bitch Planet
Ms. Marvel
Spider-Gwen
Lumberjanes
Dr. Slump (multiple volumes)
Bitch Planet
Ms. Marvel
Spider-Gwen
Lumberjanes
Oh, I didn't know this was out yet. I'll be interested to know what you think. I thought The Windup Girl was really great, but the YA book of his I read was a bit meh, so I've been looking forward to this.
edit: the paperback is out tomorrow
I am now about 70% of the way through the book and really like it so far. It's an environmental collapse dystopia crossed with a crime drama like Sicario.
Snow crash has one of the best opening segments I have ever read, and certainly the most exciting pizza delivery in all of fiction.
I should add to my impressions about Burney's journals above, that a free legal collection of her letters and journals is available online http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5826/5826-h/5826-h.htm
Less thorough for notes and context, but with a lot of letters skipped in the Penguin edition.
Nice! So it's been in the family? My dad has some pretty good collections of antiquarian books, all Norwegian authors however.
Less thorough for notes and context, but with a lot of letters skipped in the Penguin edition.
Nice! So it's been in the family? My dad has some pretty good collections of antiquarian books, all Norwegian authors however.
The Davinci Code is marked improvement over Angels and Demons, making a jump from a fun distraction to a really captivating book. Now I sort of can't wait to get into the remaining two books. I just have to fit in some other stuff because it feels like I'll burn through them really quickly.
AngmarsKing701
Member
I read it after I saw the movie. Faithful adaptation, but the book is enjoyable on its own regardless.
Easystride
Member
Loved that book! I really need to read some more Richard Yates. Unfortunately, that is the only book of his that my library has.
AngmarsKing701
Member
Cornwell does a pretty good job, from what I understand, interjecting his stories into historical events. Whether that's the Sharpe series (which I haven't read), his Arthurian series (which I found fantastic) or any of his other works, he's pretty faithful to the source material.
I've enjoyed his series revolving around Uhtred and Alfred. I think I have two books left to read in that series. The only complaint I have is that 6 or 7 books in, the first person perspective is such a narrow view of the events of that time, that I feel like a lot of the history is lost among Uhtred's opinions.
Rug Monkey
Member
What I like about Cornwell is that his books nearly always have an addendum where he explains what actually happened and where he'd taken liberties in injecting his narrators into the story.
And read Sharpe, it's superb.
TwntyOneTwlv
Member
I started Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell yesterday. I tried to read it last year but couldn't get past the first fifty pages. I'm now over a hundred pages in and I'm completely enthralled.
Meanwhile I'm still in the middle of three other books. I never thought I could handle four books at once but now I couldn't imagine reading just one at a time!
Meanwhile I'm still in the middle of three other books. I never thought I could handle four books at once but now I couldn't imagine reading just one at a time!
I've read about four of his books now and this was by far my favorite. I'd recommend his short story collection "Liars in Love" as well, which packs a similar emotional punch as this novel.
On to this now:
That seems like an odd pairing, but Paradise Lost is <3.
I had the same experience with JS&MN, except ten years went by between my initial attempt and actually reading it!
Monocle
Member
Getting back into Lovecraft thanks to a recent thread. I still haven't read The Colour out of Space, so that's next.
Starting Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. Last month I read the intro to Trigger Warning in a bookstore and it reminded me how much I love Gaiman's writing style, and just the general tone of his stories.
Kind of starting Jurassic Park because I've been told extremely positive things about it. Might put it on hold in favor of The Player of Games, my second Culture book. I really liked Consider Phlebas. Very engaging and imaginative, with surprising streaks of humor and tragedy.
On the personal development side, Mindset by Carol Dweck is pretty good so far.
Oh, and I should really get into the Thrawn Trilogy. I bought it last year, but they are physical books so I can't just whip out my phone and dig in when I'm waiting in line or something.
Starting Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. Last month I read the intro to Trigger Warning in a bookstore and it reminded me how much I love Gaiman's writing style, and just the general tone of his stories.
Kind of starting Jurassic Park because I've been told extremely positive things about it. Might put it on hold in favor of The Player of Games, my second Culture book. I really liked Consider Phlebas. Very engaging and imaginative, with surprising streaks of humor and tragedy.
On the personal development side, Mindset by Carol Dweck is pretty good so far.
Oh, and I should really get into the Thrawn Trilogy. I bought it last year, but they are physical books so I can't just whip out my phone and dig in when I'm waiting in line or something.
I think the cover alone sold me on this.
Inquisitive_Ghost
Member
Oh! I really enjoyed this book!
Monocle
Member
Awesome! I'm in the mood to paint now...
Glad to hear it. I was pulled in by the very first page. I love when Gaiman plays in the Judeo-Christian sandbox. He always puts such a delightful spin on things.
Bruce Springsteen
Member
Tragicomedy
Member
Bah dah bah bah bah, I'm loving it!
sparky2112
Member
Considering how much I loved Billy Lynn, I've been VERY slow to getting around to this. Supposed to be great, too...
nailbombxx
Member
You're in for a treat. My favorite Lovecraft story by far.
Tragicomedy
Member
Mumei reminded me of his much I loved Billy Lynn, so this was an obvious choice.
"Nina Leven!"
foomfoom415
Member
I've finished The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins.
Highly recommended. I couldn't help but finish this in three sittings. It was hard enough not to do it in two. I really enjoyed it, and the author is very up front about aspects that were cut from the final version giving a neat peek at the world and characters. Many of the aspects were things I was quite curious about when reading the book, but on reflection it would have taken away from the novel's credibility were they to shoehorn in these explanations. Having them explained outside the novel feels like a bit of author's commentary, and failing a return to the universe of the novel, this is the best way to handle it.
I'm on to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.
I'm having a bit of trouble getting into this one. It's cute enough, but the alien races are so... human. I feel like an American person today would feel more of a connection to the aliens in the novel, than to another human from a different country. Even an English-speaking one. I'll keep at it because I hate to abandon a book, particularly one that isn't really bad or anything. But I wish I'd picked something else to read over the next few days...
Highly recommended. I couldn't help but finish this in three sittings. It was hard enough not to do it in two. I really enjoyed it, and the author is very up front about aspects that were cut from the final version giving a neat peek at the world and characters. Many of the aspects were things I was quite curious about when reading the book, but on reflection it would have taken away from the novel's credibility were they to shoehorn in these explanations. Having them explained outside the novel feels like a bit of author's commentary, and failing a return to the universe of the novel, this is the best way to handle it.
I'm on to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.
I'm having a bit of trouble getting into this one. It's cute enough, but the alien races are so... human. I feel like an American person today would feel more of a connection to the aliens in the novel, than to another human from a different country. Even an English-speaking one. I'll keep at it because I hate to abandon a book, particularly one that isn't really bad or anything. But I wish I'd picked something else to read over the next few days...
I'm on to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.
I'm having a bit of trouble getting into this one. It's cute enough, but the alien races are so... human. I feel like an American person today would feel more of a connection to the aliens in the novel, than to another human from a different country. Even an English-speaking one. I'll keep at it because I hate to abandon a book, particularly one that isn't really bad or anything. But I wish I'd picked something else to read over the next few days...
Sounds like Mass Effect.
I'm on to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.
I'm having a bit of trouble getting into this one. It's cute enough, but the alien races are so... human. I feel like an American person today would feel more of a connection to the aliens in the novel, than to another human from a different country. Even an English-speaking one. I'll keep at it because I hate to abandon a book, particularly one that isn't really bad or anything. But I wish I'd picked something else to read over the next few days...
The future is American Liberal Values
Cool! Thanks. I could really do with some gripping genre fiction, I'm having a hard time sticking anything genre atm.
Yeah. I like antiquarian books
I'm on page 100 or so, the way everyone is behaving is a bit more Henry Fielding than Jane Austen, it's hilarious (not that Austen isn't).If anyone is looking for their next Downton Abbey fix, I recommend The Passing Bells. It was a clear inspiration for Downton. It's a trilogy, and the sequels aren't quite a good, but I really loved the original.
The Passing Bells by Phillip Rock
The Passing Bells by Phillip Rock
Assuming you mean the pairing of The Demonologist with Paradise Lost as opposed to The Last Kingdom and Paradise Lost there's a foreword by the author about how he drew inspiration for his main character in what he took away from his first read of the book while ay University (only the author's representation of satan) and what he took away from it 20 years later when he had to re-read it as research for his book. Essentially how the words on a page stay the same but that we change, and that in turn affects what we take in as we read.
Little more than a sales tool for his book really. Tempted to add it to my wish list though, so it's not altogether a wasted effort!
Hopefully I'll get further into Paradise Lost than I did last time I tried to read it though. Feels like I'm missing out knowing so little about the reference material.
Everyone should read Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, it's a goddamn treasure. I wonder what Ben Fountain has been up to these past 4 years.
I'm getting a little anxious knowing that I'm closing in on the end of the main series. I really have enjoyed reading the books and just love the whole mythos.
Fall of Light comes out this year and Forge of Darkness is excellent. Go Ikuu go. Love seeing Malazan readers.
Same as the other poster and you. Started it pre-college, finished it my last semester.
OT: Rereading Lies of Locke Lamora for the millionth time now - seriously a very re-readable book. Waiting until the Last Mortal Bond comes out next week t.t
Thanks for the explanation!
And I think Paradise Lost is something you can enjoy even if all you know about the story is "something something paradise something something don't eat that fruit something talking snake something something ... oops" It expands on that, gives additional backstory, including some scenes that don't appear in the Biblical story, has lots of elements that allude to or sometimes parody scenes in earlier epic poems (especially but not The Iliad, The Odyssey, and The Aeneid (also Virgil's Eclogues and Georgics)).
I think that "missing something" is simply part of the experiencing really great literature; something would have to be fairly shallow for me to get it in its entirety on the first reading (let alone subsequent readings). I reread Paradise Lost last year in an annotated edition, and also read a book analyzing its designs and allusions, and it added a lot to the experience for me.
yanipheonu
Member
Been rereading Jpod, mostly for research. A group of employees doing random internet stuff to keep themselves amused fits some of the tropes I want for a writing project I have.
Man, coming from a gaming forum, a major flaw of the book is that, while Coupland is clearly fascinated with gaming development, he's admitted he's not that informed on the whole gaming scene, so most of the scenes around game development comes off as only one level better than Big Bang Theory in authenticity.
Still it's suiting its purpose. Kinda makes me want to drop some illusions and just make a story of people trapped in EA.
After starting it nearly two months ago, I'm finally finished War and Peace. It made me laugh. It made me cry. Could've done without some of the chapters dedicated solely to the war as well as that second epilogue, but overall a great book. I can't wait to watch the BBC TV series on it now.
All The Birds in the Sky
Takes a look at the age-old conflict between technology and magic and awful sex scenes aside does a decent job. Anders gets adolescence (or mine at least) right. There's a bit where the protagonist's older sister talks about how everyone's crazy but most people just manage to hide it that got me. The outcasts are the ones who don't or refuse to hide their own brand of crazy.
Takes a look at the age-old conflict between technology and magic and awful sex scenes aside does a decent job. Anders gets adolescence (or mine at least) right. There's a bit where the protagonist's older sister talks about how everyone's crazy but most people just manage to hide it that got me. The outcasts are the ones who don't or refuse to hide their own brand of crazy.
*golf clap*
How did you like Maria Bolkonskaya? I think that was my favorite character. Lots of great small scenes and a few big ones were fun too. That being said, I'm not eager to dive into Anna Karenina. I feel like I need a couple of years before I'm ready to commit that kind of time to Tolstoy again.
I forgot my copy of The Qur'an this morning, so I ended up starting a new book that I had in my car instead: The Travels of Sir John Mandeville! It's a fourteenth-century travel narrative by (supposedly) an English knight; the author's true identity is not completely known. It's fantastical and absurd and (for its time) pretty open-minded about the lives and practices of other peoples. The introduction talks about how it liberally borrows (even lifting or reworking passages) from other sources, which was apparently common practice at the time; it also talks about the reception of the book, from the time when it was referenced by people like Marco Polo and taken quite seriously, to the time when (later) it was looked down upon.
It's quite interesting, especially the mix of mythology, religion, fantastic beasts, and cross-cultural comparisons.
It's quite interesting, especially the mix of mythology, religion, fantastic beasts, and cross-cultural comparisons.
Maria was one of my favorite characters as well. Her ability to be entirely devoted to her family despite how terrible her father treated her was inspiring. I'm so glad she found happiness.
My favorite scenes had to be:
1. Maria finally connecting with her father after he had a stroke.
2. Pierre's experience as a prisoner of war as he watched his fellow prisoners being shot by the French.
3. Prince Andrei after he is injured on the battlefield and is being prepped for surgery and he turns to his left and see Anatole laying there having his left leg cut off and instantly forgiving him for everything he's done.
2. Pierre's experience as a prisoner of war as he watched his fellow prisoners being shot by the French.
3. Prince Andrei after he is injured on the battlefield and is being prepped for surgery and he turns to his left and see Anatole laying there having his left leg cut off and instantly forgiving him for everything he's done.
As for Anna Karenina, I think you should give it a go. It doesn't take the same investment as W&P, but the scope feels just as large. I actually had just finished AK and decided to immediately pick up W&P because of how great Tolstoy is at crafting a captivating story involving a large cast of characters.
Max Armstrong
Member
Just finished Infinite Jest:
I feel so empty now. I want to go back.
I feel so empty now. I want to go back.
I thought having her sort of shun(or hide from really) society, entirely devoting herself to faith instead ostensibly, but maybe for fear as well actually, then
having Anatole show up with another helping of rejection and hope smashing anyway
To add a couple to that list, how about:
The retreat from/burning of Smolensk on display through the eyes of an unsuspecting head servant sent to do some errands.
Pierre's conversation with the French officer(over dinner?) as Moscow is capitulating.
Natasha's outing to her uncle's cottage after the hunt.
Rostov and his soldiers flirting with the doctor's wife over tea.
Just finished Infinite Jest:
I feel so empty now. I want to go back.
An Infinite Jest discussion immediately proceeding a rambling War and Peace post? I can't do it. How about this, did you
go back to read the opening section again? Because you really, really should.
Max Armstrong
Member
There are some really novel theories out there. If
you read the opening again
the ending(that is in terms of plot, not where the book actually ends) and how it comes about.
- Status